The Drunkard's Daughter

Matthew

I drove toward the bridge, hoping it would help. I parked my car a half of a mile away, knowing a walk would help me breathe.

I hate her. I should have known, the touching between them. The looks he gave her. Ugh, I'm so stupid!

I thought, shoving my hands in my pockets. As I walked closer to the bridge, I could hear a car's engine running. And the screams of a girl. I started to run to the bridge, hiding behind a tree to see what was happening.

"Dad please! Don't do this!"

It was her, the girl I saw out my window. A man held her by the wrists, pushing her toward the fenced edge. I jogged to the far side of the bridge, behind them. I crouched behind the man's car, watching the girl do her best to slow her father down.

"You're just a problem, a mess for me to fix."

"Dad please!"

"A mistake that shouldn't have happened. I'll take care of you now when I should have the moment you were born."

They reached the fence of the bridge, her father releasing his grip on her wrists. She then placed her palms on one of the bars.

"Climb up."

The man ordered. At that moment I rushed to the man. I grabbed his waist, pulling him away from her. I let go as he fell to the concrete ground. I rushed to the girl, startling her.

"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Come with me, I'll get you out of here."

I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her along. Her brown eyes were wide with fear. She looked back to her father, who was starting to get up.

"If you would like to live, c'mon!"

I said, pulling her. She finally moved with me and we started to run. I held onto her tightly, pushing her along. When she started to lose her breath, I picked her up and carried her.

"Kara get back here!"

I heard the angry cry of her father from the bridge. I looked back, and saw his figure watching us. We reached my car, and I put her in the passenger seat. I ran back to the driver's side, sliding into it. I started the car, hearing the wheels cry out from the sudden movement.

I looked in my mirror and saw him standing in the same place, taking a swig of his drink.

---

I drove as fast as I could to get away from there, not looking back.

"Are you okay?"

I asked once we got far enough away.

"No."

She said.

"What's your name?"

I asked, glancing over to her.

"Kara."

Her voice was timid and fearful, her eyes still wide. Her fingers played with the fabric of her shirt, twisting and pulling it. Anxiousness.

"I'm Matthew. You're going to be alright."

Silence.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"I'm afraid of where you're going."

She said.

"I'm taking you to the hospital, you might be hurt."

Kara grabbed my arm, holding it tightly.

"Please don't take me there! I don't want-"

"I'm taking you to the hospital."

I said, her hand moving from my arm. We drove on in silence until we reached the hospital, and even then Kara clung to the seat.

"Why do you not want to go in?"

I said, bending down to look at the fragile human I saw before me.

"If I go in, they will call the police and then everyone will know who I am. I've survived worse than a couple hits by a baseball bat."

I squatted down, my hand gently touching her arm. She shifted away from me.

"What has he done to you?"

I tried to meet her gaze but she kept moving.

"He's cut me. He's almost choked me until I pass out. Once he threw me."

I sighed, staring at the floor. I wanted to take Kara and hide her away from her father. No one should go through that.

"I will hold the police off as long as I can, but they have to write a report to look out for your father. I don't want him to hurt you again."

I took her hand,

"Please Kara."

She looked at me, her brown eyes big and wide. She nodded.

"Thank you."